Townsville man, Evander Assan Clay sentenced to jail for attacking sleeping man with pole

A man was injured after he woke to a man standing at the end of his bed armed with a metal pole, with a court hearing the victim’s roommate let the offender in unknowing as to what would unfold.

Townsville man, Evander Assan Clay sentenced to jail for attacking sleeping man with pole. Picture: generic

A man woke up in “excruciating pain” during the middle of the night, to an unknown man standing at the foot of his bed armed with a metal pole and knife and realised he had been struck in the leg after his roommate just let the offender in.

Evander Assan Clay appeared in Townsville District Court on Wednesday morning after he fractured a man’s ankle with a metal pole, only seven days after being released from jail and was on parole.

Crown prosecutor Patrick Newman said that on November 25 in 2023, the victim had gone to bed, however his roommate was awake and answered the door to a mutual friend and a then 28-year-old Clay, and let them in.

“The (victim) woke up in excruciating pain in the left ankle and found (Clay) standing at the foot of his bed,” Mr Newman said.

The injured man asked Clay what he was doing and told him to stop.

“(Clay) hit him again on the right shin, then produced a large knife from his waistband, (Clay) warned him to be quiet and said he would cut him up if he didn’t,” the crown said.

The offender took the man’s bum bag which had in it a mobile phone, the court was told before fleeing.

The victim who went to hospital the following day suffered a fractured ankle and had to wear a moon boot for two months, according to Mr Newman.

It was during a police search of a property for an unrelated investigation the following day that authorities located Clay and he had with him the metal pole and victim’s bum bag, the court was told.

Mr Newman read aloud a victim impact statement that outlined the man’s fear during the attack.

“I thought he was going to kill me, I was so scared,” it read.

“I was scared to leave my unit complex, I’m still scared to leave my home because I’m paranoid.”

Defence barrister Kellie Mythen instructed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Legal Services said the offending occurred over a “short period” and was so short that the victim’s roommate and mutual friend hadn’t realised what had happened.

“The injury while I appreciate it is attached to a serious charge, is less serious than what your honour may see,” she said.

“It involved a fracture to the ankle and there was no requirement for surgical intervention.”

She said her client, a father of three, had experienced a “troubled” upbringing which included being unsupervised and living on the streets for significant amounts of time and suffering a traumatic event as a young person.

Jude John Coker acknowledged the man had spent 458 days in custody, but only declared 160 days as time already served.

Clay pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm, burglary and stealing.

He was sentenced to five years jail and given a parole eligibility date of September 19.

Originally published as Townsville man, Evander Assan Clay sentenced to jail for attacking sleeping man with pole